5 Recreational Activities to do While in Orange Beach 

Orange Beach, Alabama is a lesser-known beach unless you live nearby. It’s not as big or well known as Panama City Beach or other beaches along the coast, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot to offer. Orange Beach offers white sands and gorgeous waters. It also has a lot of recreational activities for you and your family to enjoy during your stay.

Go Sky High

Get off the ground by planning a helicopter tour or enjoying parasailing. If you want a rush and enjoy the views of Orange Beach, parasailing allows you to enjoy the breathtaking views while being pulled behind a powerboat in the ocean. Helicopter tours in Orange Beach offer another way to view Orange Beach from the air. You will get to see the beach, plus witness all of the sea life swimming below the ocean surface.

Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo offers a pleasant day exploring the grounds and seeing the animals. It’s only a couple blocks away from the beach. With a centrally located Orange Beach hotel, you can walk to both the beach and the zoo easily. The zoo boasts almost 300 animals and was the feature of the show on Animal Planet, “The Little Zoo That Could,” which highlighted its efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Ivan.

Sightsee at Historic Fort Morgan

Visit Fort Morgan by land or by sea. It has two slips that accommodate most fishing boats. Fort Morgan was completed in 1834. Construction began initially in 1812 to defend against a British attack. The British took the fort, but later were forced to return it due to the terms of the treaty that ended the war of 1812. The fort continued its storied journey throughout history and now sits open for tours.

Try Out Different Water Sports

Get out on the water and enjoy water sports at Orange Beach. If you want some early morning exercise, rent a kayak or a paddleboard to enjoy out on the water. If you’ve never paddleboarded, you’ll find it is sometimes challenging in the ocean, but definitely worth a try. If you want a little more adrenaline, rent a boat for waterskiing or wakeboarding, or rent jet skis to feel that rush out on the open ocean. Orange Beach has plenty of options for renting all different types of water sports equipment.

Hike the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

The Hugh S. Branyon backcountry trail offers miles of trails through many different ecosystems that span over 15 miles. The trails run through Orange Beach, the Gulf State Park, and the Gulf Shores. The trail can take you through a butterfly garden and freshwater marshes. Keep an eye out for deer along the path but watch out for the alligators that you may spot along the way.

If you’ve been to Orange Beach, you already know it’s a gorgeous beach with plenty to do. If you’ve never been, then you will be surprised at how quickly you will fall in love with it. Although it’s nice to lounge on the beach, you will enjoy getting out and trying some of the recreational activities.